Police: Deadly Fall Off SUV Was Joke Gone Wrong

A man, trying to play a joke on his friends by holding on to the luggage rack of a moving vehicle, fell, hit his head and died, said El Paso Police.

Police officials said two roommates, 22-year-old Brittany Bridgeforth and 23-year-old Nicole Ann Fox were leaving their home on the 11400 block of Chickasaw at about 6:16 Saturday evening. Bridgeforth was driving a 1999 Dodge Durango, when 24-year-old Antonio Thomas, who was visiting the home, jumped on to the back of the moving S.U.V. by holding on to the luggage rack, said investigators.

According to police officials, while Thomas was holding on, the luggage rack broke. He fell and hit his head on the street. Thomas was taken to Del Sol Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said another roommate of the two women, 21-year-old Robert James Oryall, also jumped on to the S.U.V. but was not injured. Investigators said the two men jumped on to the vehicle as a joke and that no charges are expected in the case.

This was the 58th traffic death for 2011, compared to 56 this time last year.